Suction cleaner



March 7, 1933. 3 BECKER 1,900,889

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 7, 1933. B, c,BE KE 1.900889 SUCTION CLEANER Filed Feb. 6, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Mar. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BERNARD C. BECKER, FYORK, PENNSYLVANIA,- ASSIGNOR TO THE HOOVER COMPANY, OF NORTH CANTON,OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO suc'rroiv CLEANER Application filed February6, 1931 seriainofneom.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general andparticularly to new and novel improvements in the construction andarrangement of parts in the suction cleaner nozzle. More specificallythe invention comprises the provision, in a suction cleaner nozzle, ofan air tunnel containing air at substantially the pressure of theexternal atmosphere and which is provided with rotary agitating lipsunder which the air escapes from the air tunnel into the suction cleanernozzle in response to the reduced pressure created therein by thesuction-creating means of the cleaner.

In the usual suction cleaner the cleaning air is drawn under the nozzlelips and passes thru the pile of the surface covering, which iscontacted by the lips, to remove the embedded foreign matter which, ifthe machine is provided with agitating means, has been loosened anddislodged by agitation. In the usual suction cleaner a rotary agitatoris positioned within the nozzle between the front and rear lips,extending parallel to and being spaced equidistant between them. Theremoval of the foreign matter by the cleaning air is effected, in such aconstruction, at a point spaced from the point at which the surfacecovering receives its agitation, that point being the point at which thecovering is contacted by the agitator. Research has disclosed thatmaximum cleaning efliciency is obtained when the point of agitation andthe point of cleaning effectiveness are coincident and it is toward aconstruction in which this relationship is obtained that the presentinvention is directed.

According to the present invention, the nozzle lips are made relativelybroad so as to limit the amount of air which passes between them and thesurface covering in the cleaning operation. Within the nozzle isprovided an air tunnel or housing which is interiorly connected with theambient and so contains air at substantially atmospheric pressure. Theair tunnel is provided with rotating agitators as surface contactinglips at each side, said sides extending arallel to the nozzle lips andbeing spaced therefrom and from each other The air in the tunnel indrawn into the nozzle under these rotating lips in response to thereduced pressure existing within the nozzle, and in doing so,necessarily passes the exact point at which the surface covering isundergoing agitation, thereby accomplishing the desirable relationshipof making coincident the point of agitation and air cleaningeifectiveness.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedsuction cleaner construction of increased cleaning efiiciency. A furtherobject is the provision, in a suction cleaner, of a new and improvednozzle construction. A further object is the provlsion, in a suctioncleaner, of means efi'ectmg an improved relationship between thecleaning air and the agitation. Still another object is the provision,in a suction cleaner, of a nozzle within which is positioned a hous- 1ngcontaining air at pressure greater than that of the air in the nozzle,and from which said air passes into said nozzle under agitating means. Astill further object is the provision of a suction cleaner nozzle havingbroad sealing lips in combination with a stationary air tunnelcontaining air at substantially air pressure which is provided withrotating agitating lips. Other and more specific objects will appearupon reading the following specification and claims and considering inconnection therewith the attached drawings which form an integral partof this disclosure.

In the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present inventionis disclosed:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a modern suction cleaner embodying the presentinvention with certain parts broken away and shown in section upon theline 1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a partial bottom view of the cleaner shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a detail comprising a gear box;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of a section vention Fig. 6 is a sectionupon the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section upon the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an end view upon the line 88 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a view of a detached nozzle end plate;

Fig. 10 is a section through an agitating lip upon the line 1010 of Fig.6.

The present invention is disclosed embodied in a modern suction cleanercomprising a nozzle 1, having removable end plates 2, 2; a fan chamber3, which is preferably formed integrally with the nozzle 1 and isconnected interiorly thereto by means of the inlet 4, and which houses asuction-creating fan 5; a motor casing 6 which houses a' driving motor,which is not shown but the shaft 7 of which extends thru the fan chamber3 where it carries the fan 5 and into the nozzle 1 where it is providedwith a pulley 8 which is connected, by means which will be hereinafterdescribed, to the agitating means positioned within nozzle 1; frontsupporting wheels 9, 9 and a rear supporting wheel 10.

by which the cleaner is removably supported upon the covering undergoingcleaning; a pivoted handle 11 by means of which the operator can easilypropel the cleaner upon the surface. As in the usual cleaner a dust bag12 is provided which connects to the exhaust outlet of the fan chamber 3and which functions to remove from the exhausted dirtladen air thesuspended foreign matter. The nozzle 1 is provided with detachable frontand rear surface-contacting lips 13 and 14 which are of relatively greatbreadth as compared to the usual nozzle lips and which overlie, when thesurface covering has been lifted into contact therewith by the reducedpressure existing within the nozzle, a plurality of adjacent tufts ofpile, or adjacent rows of tufts of pile to substantially restrict theflow of air into the nozzle and to provide a positive seal with thesurface covering. Within the nozzle 1 and extending parallel to thefront and rear lips 13 and 14 are rotary agitators 15 and 16 providedwith helically extending recessed portions 15a and 16a which function asbeater elements. Each end of each agitator is rotatably supported withina removable nozzle end plate 2 by means of a stub shaft 17 which extendsfrom the agitator and seats within a bearing 18 suitably housed within aseat 19 carried by the end plate. The seats 19, 19 on each end plate aresuitably secured and extend thru openings 20, 20 formed therein. Eachagitator 15 and 16 is divided midway between its ends into two sectionswhich are connected by means of a shaft 21, as is clearly shown inFigure 6, which is rotatably supported between said sections in a gearbox 22 by means of bearings 23, 23. Gear box 22 is clearly shown inFigure 4. The driving or rotating means for the agitators comprises ashaft 24 which extends thru gear box 22 perpendicularly to the spacedshafts 21, 21, being supported by means of bearings 25, 25 carried bythat box. Shaft 24 is provided with spaced worm gears 26, 26 havingopposite directions of thread advance and these gears mesh with spiralgears 27, 27 carried by the respective shafts 21, 21 of agitators 15 and16 between the bearings 23, 23 in the gear box. Shaft 24 functions torevolve shafts 21, 21 and so the agitators to which-they are connected.in opposite directions of rotation upon being driven itself by the belt28 connected between the driving pulley 8 on motor shaft 7 and thepulley 29 which it carries in the rear of the rear nozzle lip 14.

Within nozzle 1 and extending from end to end thereof, being dividedinto two sections in a manner similar to agitators l5 and 16, is atunnel or housing member 30 of which one section is shown in perspectivein Figure 5. Tunnel 30 is suitably attached at its outer ends torespective end plates 2. 2 by means of outstanding lugs and screws. orin any suitable manner, and similarly at the inner ends of therespective sections. to the adjacent sides of the gear box 22. Thetunnel is positioned above the agitators l5 and 1G and encloses them,extending around at their sides in close proximity to their smoothcylindrical surfaces in a manner permitted by the presence of therecess-type beater. The interior of tunnel 30 is open to the exterioratmosphere thru openings 31. 31 formed in the end plates 2, 2 betweenthe spaced openings 20, 20, which are of sufficient size that thepressure existing within the tunnel 30, and the respective sectionsthereof, is substantially atmospheric in the operation of the machine.The relationship existing between the agitators 15 and 16 and thehousing 30 is such that substantially no air passes from the housing 30into the nozzle 1 between it and the agitators, their proximityproviding an effective seal. In effect agitators 15 and 16 serve asextensions of the side walls of tunnel 30 extending said tunnel to theirlowest points and so make it necessary for the air, in leaving thetunnel to enter the nozzle, to pass under said agitators.

In the operation of a suction cleaner constructed in accordance with thepresent invention, upon the rotation of the (lI'iVlHg inotor thesuction-creating tan 5 creates a reduced pressure within the nozzle 1which lifts the surface covering upwardly against the nozzle lips 13 and14 and into contact with the rotary agitators 15 and 16. Agitators 15and 16 are rotated, thru the aforedescribcd mechanism comprising thedriving belt. pulleys, shafts and gears, in opposite directions andcontact the surface covering and impart thereto a violent agitationresulting in the loosening and dislodgment of the embedded foreignmatter. The nozzle lips 13 and 14, thru being of relatively great width,permit but a slight amount of air to pass between themselves and thesurface covering into the nozzle thereby directing substantially theentire draft of the suction-creating means to the tunnel 30 which isopen to the nozzle between its rotary lips and which contains air atsubstantially atmospheric pressure. The air which has entered tunnel 30thru the openings 31, 31 in the end walls of the nozzle is drawntherefrom by the reduced pressure within the nozzle 1, and passes underthe rotating agitators 15 and 16, which functions as the lips for thetunnel, and in doing so passes over and thru the surface covering at thepoints where it contacts with the agitators thereby providing thecoincidence of the point of surface covering agitation and air cleaningeffectiveness.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a stationary air tunnel interiorlyconnected to the atmosphere supported in said nozzle and having anexhaust opening therein, surface-contacting agitating means in airsealed relationship with said air tunnel and defining a side of thetunnel mouth, and means to actuate said agitating means.

2. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, a stationary air tunnel having anexhaust opening within the nozzle and interiorly connected to a sourceof cleaning fluid at a greater pressure than the fluid within thenozzle, a surface-contacting agitator carried by said nozzle anddefining one side of the mouth of said air tunnel, and means to impart arotary motion to said agitating means.

3. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, broad sealing lips upon said nozzle,a hollow stationary member within said nozzle interiorly connected withthe atmosphere, said member having an exhaust outlet between the lips ofsaid nozzle, a. rotary agitating member carried by said nozzle adjacentsaid exhaust outlet in air sealed relationship with a side thereof andextendingsubsjantially into the plane of the nozzle lips, and means toactuate said agitator with a rotary movement.

4. In a suction cleaner, a nozzle, nozzle lips upon said nozzle, a wallof said nozzle having an opening above the plane of said lips, a hollowhousing mounted in and open to said nozzle, said housing beinginteriorly connected to the exterior atmosphere thru the opening in saidwall, a rotary agitating member in said nozzle extending substantiallyinto the plane of said nozzle lips and in air sealed relation to a sideof said housing at the mouth thereof, and means to impart rotary motionto said agitator.

5. A suction cleaner comprising a nozzle, a suction-creating device todraw air thru said nozzle, an open-bottom air tunnel containing air atsubstantially atmospheric pressure positioned in said nozzle, agitatorsin said nozzle defining the sides of said air tunnel, and means toactuate said agitators, characterized by the fact that said agitatorsare of the positive-beating type and are provided with rotary movement.

6. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, spaced lips upon said nozzleadapted to contact the surface covering undergoing cleaning, means todraw air thru said nozzle, a stationary housing within said nozzleinteriorly connected to the atmosphere and having a downwardly facingopening, rotary surface-contacting elements in air sealed relation tosaid housing defining the sides of said opening and extending into theplane of said nozzle lips being adapted to contact the surface coveringtherebetween, and means to-rotate said surface contacting elements.

7. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, spaced lips upon said nozzledefining a nozzle mouth, means to draw air thru said nozzle and to liftthe surface covering undergoing cleaning against-said nozzle lips, astationary air tunnel in said nozzle connected interiorly to a source ofair pressure greater than that in said nozzle, said trunnel having anopening facing the surface covering undergoing cleaning, agitatingelements in said nozzle defining said tunnel opening and adapted tocontact the surface covering undergoing cleaning, and means to actuatesaid agitating means relative to said air tunnel and to said nozzle toagitate the surface covering.

8. In a suction cleaner, a suction nozzle, spaced lips upon said nozzledefining a nozzle mouth, means to draw air thru said nozzle and to liftthe surface covering undergoing cleaning against said nozzle lips, astationary air tunnel in said nozzle connected interiorly to a source ofair pressure greater than that in said nozzle, said tunnel having anopening facing the surface covering undergoing cleaning, rotaryagitators in said nozzle in air sealed relationship with said tunneldefining said tunnel opening and adapted to contact the surface coveringundergoing cleaning, and means to rotate said agitators relative to saidair tunnel and to said nozzle to agitate the surface covering.

9. A suction cleaner including rotary suction-creating means, a nozzlecommunicating with said suction-creating means, lips upon said nozzle, astationary air tunne within said nozzle interiorly connected with theatmosphere and having a downwardly facing exhaust outlet, rotarysurface-contacting agitating elements at the sides of the exhaust outletof said air tunnel in substantially sealed relationship therewith, arotatable shaft carried by said nozzle transversely to said agitators,gear means connecting said shaft to said agitator, and means connectingsaid rotatable shaft to said rotary suctioncreating means for thepurpose of transmitting power therefrom to said agitators.

10. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a nozzle interiorlyconnected to said suction-creating means, means movably supporting saidnozzle above the supporting surface, spaced agitators in said nozzle, ahousing in said nozzle having a downwardly facing opening the sides ofwhich are positioned closely adjacent said agitators, and meansinteriorly connecting said housing to the atmosphere exterior of saidnozzle.

11. In a suction cleaner, suction-creating means, a nozzle interiorlyconnected to said suction-creating means having a downwardly facingmouth, means movably supporting said nozzle with its mouth spaced abovethe supporting surface, spaced rotary agitators in said nozzle extendingsubstantially into said nozzle mouth, a housing in said nozzle abovesaid agitators having a downwardly facing opening the sides of whichclosely overlie said agitators, and means interiorly connecting saidhousing to the atmosphere.

Signed at York, in the county of York, and State of Pennsylvania, this28th day of January, A. D. 1931.

BERNARD C. BECKER.

